Killing of Lorenza Best in Alabama in 1950

Incident

Case summary

Lorenza Best (1914 – 1950), employed at the Southern Pipe & Supply Shop and a WWII veteran, was killed by police officer J. D. Thomas in Anniston, Calhoun County, Alabama. Police officers claimed that Best advanced on them with a knife. The police shot him in the chest four times. Calhoun County Sheriff A. A. Pate, who acted as a coroner, returned a finding of justifiable homicide.

Victim(s):

Lorenza Best


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

J. D. Thomas

Perpetrator group type: police

Date of incident: 1950-06-14
Location: Anniston, Calhoun County, Alabama
Location type: unknown - urban
Allegation against victim: [ ]

Coroner process
Coroner/inquest: yes
Finding of no legal responsibility: yes

Criminal process
Arrest: [ ]
Charge/indictment/information: [ ]
Grand jury: [ ]
Trial: [ ]
Conviction: [ ]
Sentence: [ ]

DOJ case ID:

144-1-121


Document(s):
census records - closed
death certificates
federal agency records
news articles - closed
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